The chief executive of Executive Jet Company has said he was angry when he referred to musician Naira Marley as "useless" in a letter to the aviation minister.

Sam Iwuajoku had written to the minister on Monday to apologise for flying the musician from the commercial hub, Lagos, to the capital, Abuja, to perform in a concert on Saturday.

The airline was suspended by the minister for facilitating what was classed as non-essential travel.

Mr Iwuajoku had said in the letter that he thought the rapper was part of an entourage for a government minister, adding: "I didn't know that it was a bunch of useless people."

The reference caused a storm on social media and the musician has announced a boycott of the airline.